The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-12-10
A SHIP OF '49.
BY BRET HARTE.
Copyrighted by Houghton, Mifiin & Co., and
published bv arrsngenent with them.]
CHAPTER VIII,

MaurOno cottage lay ~ the entrance Oh
a little canada already green with the
early winter rains and nestled in thicket
Of the harlequin painted trees that gave it
name. The young man was little re-
lieved to find that Rosey had gone to the
postoffice a mile away and that he would
probably overtake her or meet her return.
ing-alOne. The road-little more than a
trail-wound along the crest of the hill
looking across the canada to the long,
dark, heavily wooded flank Of Mount Ia
malpais that rose from the valley dozen
miles away. A cessation Of the warm
rain, rift in the sky and the rare specta-
Gle Of cloud scenery, combined with GER
tain sense Of freedom, restored that light
hearted gayety that became him most.
At sudden turn of the road he caught
sight Of Rosey's figure coming toward
him and quickened his step with the i'm
pulsiveness Of boy. But she suddenly
disappeared, and when he again saw her
she was on the other side Of the trail ap-
parently picking the leaves Of a man
zanita. She had already seen him.
Somehow the frankness Of his greeting
was checked. She looked up at him with
cheeks that retained enough of their color
to suggest why she had hesitated, and said,
"You here, Mr.. Renshaw? thought you
were in Sacramento"
"And thought you were in Petaluma,"
he retorted, gayly. ~ have letter from
your father. The fact is, one of those
gentlemen who has been haunting the
ship made an entry last night Who he
was and what he came for nobody knows.
Perhaps your father gives you his suspi-
cions." He could not help looking at her
narrowly as he handed her the note. Ex-
cept that her pretty eyebrows were
slightly raised in curiosity she seemed I'M
disturbed as she opened the letter. Pres
emily she raised her eyes to his.
''Is this all father gave your"
"Al."
you're sure you haven't dropped any
thingH'
'Nothing. Ihave given you all he gave
me-"
"And that is all it is" She exhibited
the missive, q perfectly blank sheet Of
paper folded like note.
Renshaw felt the angry blood glow in
his cheeks. "This is objectionable! as
sure you, Miss Mott, there must be some
mistake He himself has probably forgot
ten the inclosure," he continued, yet with
an inward conviction that the act was
perfectly premeditated on the part of the
old man.
The young girl held out her hand
frankly. "Don't think any more of it,
Mr.. Renshaw. Father is forgetful at
times. But tell me about last night"
In few words Mr. Renshaw briefly
but plainly related the details of the at
tempt upon the Pontiac, from the moment
that he had been awakened by Mott to his
discovery of the unknown trespasser's
fight by the open door to the loft. When
taking Rosey's hand, said impulsively,
"You will not be angry with me if tell
you all? Your father firmly believes that
the attempt was made by the old French
man, de Ferrieres, with view of carry
ing you off"
A dozen reasons other than the one her
father would have attributed it to might
have called the blood to her face But
only innocence could have brought the
look of astonished indignation to her eyes
as she answered quickly:
$50 that was what you were laugh
ing at''
'Not that, Mss Mott" said the young
man eagerly: Though I wish to God I
could accuse myself Of nothing more dis
loyal. Do not speak, beg" he added
impatiently, as Rosey was about to reply.
II have no right to hear you; have no
right to even stand in your presence until
I have confessed everything. 1 came to
Miss Mott, through fraud as wicked as
anything your father charges to de Fer
rieres. I am not contractor. never
was an honest ledger in the Pontiac. l
was simply spy"
'But you didn't mean to bet was
some mistake, wasn't it9'' said Rosey,
quite white, but more from sympathy
with the offenders emotion than horror
at the offense
II am afraid / did mean it. But bear
with me for a few moments longer and
you shall know all. It's long story.
Will you walk on, and-take my arm?
You do not shrink from me, Miss Mott.
Thank you. scarcely deserve the kind
ness"
Indeed so little did Rosey shrink that
he was conscious Of slight reassuring
pressure on his arm as they moved for
ward, and for the moment I fear the
young man felt like exaggerating his
6fense for the sake of proportionate SYM
pathy. 'Do you remember" he contin-
ned, lone evening when told you some
SEQ tales, you said you always thought
there must be some story about the Pom
tiac' There was story Of the Pontiac,
Miss Nott-a wicked story-a terrible
story-which l might have told you,
which ought to have told you-which
was the story that brought me there. You
were right, too in saying that you
thought I had known the Pontiac before
stepped first on her deck that day.
had"